The rising sun

We take a look at some of the coolest rides whic have all emerged from Japan

We take a look at some of the coolest rides which have all emerged from Japan.

Honda CR-V

The CR-V has been a consistent symbol of success in India – a well-made crossover from the most respected Japanese brand in the country. While it won’t exactly tame the wild or set the road on fire, it's copmfortable and luxurious. The newer version takes that sense of comfort to the next level, with even more stylish interiors and a softer ride. yiur diamond merchant neighbours will be very jealous.

Mitsubishi Evo X

The Evo X might be getting on in years, but it’s still one of the most impressive Japanese cars out there, thanks largely to its jaw-dropping performance. At the outset, it’s a large, four-door sedan that can comfortably seat five and carry a ton of luggage. But turn on the engine and you realize it’s a road-going missile – capable of reaching 100kph in under five seconds and devouring corners faster than a fat kid going to town on a McFlurry. Best of both worlds? Without a doubt.

Toyota Camry

It might be slow, ordinary looking and uninteresting, but the Toyota Camry is one of the best cars out there for one reason alone: peace of mind. The exceptionally well-built family saloon has become a byword for reliability and value for money. It’s got a beautiful ride, the suspension doesn’t make any noise, the engine doesn’t burn too much fuel and it just envelops you in a safe space, seemingly far removed from the world outside. The Camry, then, is the perfect car if you want to completely forget that you own one.

Nissan GTR

In the nineties, Nissan produced a sports car called the Skyline. It was so customizable and so incredibly good that it became one of the most iconic cars to come out of Japan. The GT-R is the modernday descendant of the Skyline – and boy is it a masterpiece. Each engine is hand-built to perfection in Japan, churning out about 530hp, and every setting can be tuned to set up the car exactly how you want it. The GT-R gives you supercar performance at a sports car price. The legend continues.

Lexus LF-A

Lexus was better known for its soft, rather boring, sedans until it launched the LFA, a hypercar born deep inside its high-performance F division. This stunning beast has the performance to match its looks, too – it’s propelled by a monstrous 550hp 4.8-litre V10 engine that’s so brutal that it sounds like it’s being fuelled by the devil himself. In every way, it’s absolutely brutal. At almost half-a-million dollars, it’s also the most expensive road car to come out of Japan, but honestly, cars like these are works of art – we’d happily give an arm and a leg for one.

Subaru BRZ

Developed in association with Toyota, the BRZ is asensational new sports coupé that aims to bring performance motoring to the masses. The car uses theboxer engine design from Subaru but couples that with Toyota’s fantastic direct injection system,which means the tiny four cylinder engine can push out 200hp. Given its beautiful, aerodynamic design, low centre of gravity and feather-like weight, this car is an absolute blast to drive. The best part? It costs about the same as a medium-sized family car.